Man I can't believe its already July. This year is just slipping through my fingers. LOTS of good things in that time though, so I guess you can really say time flies when you're having fun!
Some recent exciting things would be that I am officially going back to get my Teaching Credential THIS Fall 2011. I am already in my online class that serves as the LAST pre-requisite I need to be completely in. I'm pretty proud of myself for getting this far and now I can only hope my new time management mastery will come in handy as I kick some major butt this 2nd time around. I'm hoping for a 4.0 cause come on, dream big right? I think 3 years, a good deal of maturation, and some legitimate professional and personal life experience will make me a much better student now. God really does have perfect timing in all things.
To recap the month of June, I vacationed with family in the beautiful Yosemite National Park, had the opportunity to lead worship for an amazing Calvary Chapel women's retreat and be apart of a dear friend's wedding. I wish I had captured some photos of each of these to post here, but alas, I just inherited a Canon 20D from my Dad this week. Along with my musical hobbies I hope to snap some shots here and there and document my life more!
These next coming months will be filled with change as I transition to a full-time student again. Ugh. But I am really praying and trusting that in the transition and change, there will be growth and new life. We must be as streams of living water, constantly renewing, so you can't expect to get comfortable in this life. Who wants that anyway?
Much love and blessings to you all! Maybe I'll blog again soon, my friends. Just maybe. :)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Well It's April!
For my monthly blog entry, I thought I would share a couple highlights of my life lately in pictures.
Oh, you know... Passed the CSET!!! Thank you God
Cirque Du Soleil with work. Amazing.
Trip home to celebrate Lauren getting married!
Loving Life!
Oh, you know... Passed the CSET!!! Thank you God
Cirque Du Soleil with work. Amazing.
Trip home to celebrate Lauren getting married!
Loving Life!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Happy Birthday to me.
I'm not sure what my favorite part of this weekend was but here are just a few to boot.
1. Getting hit on by mysterious "Jimmy" in the kaiser pharmacy with a direct quote "Nice hair"... (5 mins later) "I'm double parked but if you're single and interested...call me!" Nice, Jimmy... Nice.
2. Celebrating with streamers, chocolate cake from Extrodinary Desserts and seeing all my favorite kids at work!
3. Taking TWO days off to do nothing but get a massage and drink coffee. Yes, please!
4. Almost all of my favorite people at the same table to celebrate my birthday with me tonight. Melissa Perea, Thanks for coordinating <3 Emily Kate Nickerson, thank you for driving 2 hours to celebrate one of your besties turn 26.
5. Getting a cash-MONEY gift to purchase a cajon. WIN
6. A stream of presents, phone calls and FB Notifications over the last couple of days. Nothing like seeing so and so and 51 others have commented on your page.
Wow, my life really couldn't be any sweeter. :)
1. Getting hit on by mysterious "Jimmy" in the kaiser pharmacy with a direct quote "Nice hair"... (5 mins later) "I'm double parked but if you're single and interested...call me!" Nice, Jimmy... Nice.
2. Celebrating with streamers, chocolate cake from Extrodinary Desserts and seeing all my favorite kids at work!
3. Taking TWO days off to do nothing but get a massage and drink coffee. Yes, please!
4. Almost all of my favorite people at the same table to celebrate my birthday with me tonight. Melissa Perea, Thanks for coordinating <3 Emily Kate Nickerson, thank you for driving 2 hours to celebrate one of your besties turn 26.
5. Getting a cash-MONEY gift to purchase a cajon. WIN
6. A stream of presents, phone calls and FB Notifications over the last couple of days. Nothing like seeing so and so and 51 others have commented on your page.
Wow, my life really couldn't be any sweeter. :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Career Change!
Well, considering I blog about 2x/month...not sure if anyone is still following. If so...I am still alive, I'm 25 (about to be 26) and life has been good! I guess the point of a blog is to update so here it is...
"Career change" you ask? INDEED! I've been sharing with most of my friends through this whole process but incase you haven't been updated... I am going back to school in the Fall! I am going to be a teacher! Yep. And I'm excited. If you are a full-time working adult and thinking/wanting to go back to school but haven't quite found the motivation, here's what I say to you. DO IT! I know that might sound easier said than done, but I truly think if we are following God in our lives on a daily basis, our hearts will desire what God has for us. Of course, this can't be said without a disclaimer or seeking wisdom, asking friends and older mentors for advice and lots of PRAYER...but I find that usually what's stopping us is our own laziness. It's been quite the challenge to get to this point but this Thursday, I am turning in my department application. If that doesn't sound very exciting or accomplished, then let me tell you a little bit of what it took to get to this point and the costs. Just for kix ;) (No pun intended)
1. Applied to SDSU as a graduate student. (Credential Program is not technically a graduate program but had to apply to become an SDSU student for the second time) $55
2. Registered for Teacher Health Education class at Grossmont $41
3. Registered for CSET exam March 12th $210
4. Fingerprints/Clearance Part 1 $68
5. Clearance Part 2 (Online) $29
6. Registered for Special Education Class $475
7. Department Application Filing Fee $25
8.4 Page Essay for Early Classroom Experience $0 Yay!
9. Statement of Purpose $0
10. Letters of Recommendation $0
11. CPR Certification (Free from work)
12. TB Test (Free from work as well)
13. CBEST Exam Scores (Took 2 years ago and passed) $100?
.... Completed Department Application. Total Domination.
[Just for fun...let's see, thats a total of about $903 out of pocket in the last 2 months, not including the CBEST exam. And I haven't even started the program]
More updates to come!
"Career change" you ask? INDEED! I've been sharing with most of my friends through this whole process but incase you haven't been updated... I am going back to school in the Fall! I am going to be a teacher! Yep. And I'm excited. If you are a full-time working adult and thinking/wanting to go back to school but haven't quite found the motivation, here's what I say to you. DO IT! I know that might sound easier said than done, but I truly think if we are following God in our lives on a daily basis, our hearts will desire what God has for us. Of course, this can't be said without a disclaimer or seeking wisdom, asking friends and older mentors for advice and lots of PRAYER...but I find that usually what's stopping us is our own laziness. It's been quite the challenge to get to this point but this Thursday, I am turning in my department application. If that doesn't sound very exciting or accomplished, then let me tell you a little bit of what it took to get to this point and the costs. Just for kix ;) (No pun intended)
1. Applied to SDSU as a graduate student. (Credential Program is not technically a graduate program but had to apply to become an SDSU student for the second time) $55
2. Registered for Teacher Health Education class at Grossmont $41
3. Registered for CSET exam March 12th $210
4. Fingerprints/Clearance Part 1 $68
5. Clearance Part 2 (Online) $29
6. Registered for Special Education Class $475
7. Department Application Filing Fee $25
8.4 Page Essay for Early Classroom Experience $0 Yay!
9. Statement of Purpose $0
10. Letters of Recommendation $0
11. CPR Certification (Free from work)
12. TB Test (Free from work as well)
13. CBEST Exam Scores (Took 2 years ago and passed) $100?
.... Completed Department Application. Total Domination.
[Just for fun...let's see, thats a total of about $903 out of pocket in the last 2 months, not including the CBEST exam. And I haven't even started the program]
More updates to come!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sunday Goals
Church - Check! Awesome worship by my friend Amy E.
Laundry - In progress (I think I almost broke the washer shoving all my sheets and matress pad in there...oops)
Exercise - Its a beautiful day in SD but I'm running out of time... gym or no gym?!
Make Alli Dinner - All the ingredients are purchased. Just need to put them together
Vacuum - About to do this right now.
Helping with event tonight at Church - Starbucks will be my reward for completing my goals. :)
Laundry - In progress (I think I almost broke the washer shoving all my sheets and matress pad in there...oops)
Exercise - Its a beautiful day in SD but I'm running out of time... gym or no gym?!
Make Alli Dinner - All the ingredients are purchased. Just need to put them together
Vacuum - About to do this right now.
Helping with event tonight at Church - Starbucks will be my reward for completing my goals. :)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
In the quiet.
I've been thinking lately, that I need to spend more time with the Lord. Especially where there is no one else around and its quiet. Listening to the Lord can sometimes (and often) be more what we need than praying to Him.
With all the noise around us, it sure is hard to find a quiet moment but when I find one, its perfect. Lately, I've really been craving these moments to sit and be quiet so God has been sneaking them in, I can tell. :) The other day at work, I took a 20 minute break and drove to Starbucks (of course) to just sit and think. It was so refreshing and cleansing. I think God really wants us to stop and gain perspective in life instead of barreling through at a hundred miles an hour. We are going to get to the end of our lives and think... why did we race to get here? I want to enjoy each moment and really dwell in my purpose on this earth. Its hard to do that going a hundred miles an hour.
So we have to stop. And meet with Him.
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Opportunities... or "God uses you when you suck the most"
Wow, I am just in awe. So this week has been long...and tiring...and I'm probably not being the most devoted Christ-follower out there. I have really been trying to get in the Word more like um, daily, but this is hard. I have also been praying, like before I fall asleep... What is that? My relationship with God needs a jump start is what I've been thinking. A retreat. A revelation. A new devotion book... something! Lord knows I need it so I guess the way He wanted to do that was to give me an opportunity.
A little background information on my spiritual journey over the last year. After last summer I had been feeling like God wanted me to move from Horizon and the high school ministry to pursue leading worship. I didn't know exactly what that meant or where that would lead me but after going to North Coast Calvary for a couple months, the drive got too long and it felt like I was missing the piece of fellowship and community. I then got introduced by my roommate to the church I go now called Newbreak. She was going there and brought me along with her. She ended up moving on and somehow, someway I ended up staying. I kept hearing this faint voice... stay and worship Me. Hmmm, this really isn't the exact place I want to be Lord. I was kind of looking for a husband here (to be honest) and its smaller than I am used to. Hmm. But I stayed.
Only a few weeks into being at this new church I was introduced through another dear friend of mine to the worship pastor, Ron. Great guy and the odd thing was he was starting a group to mentor worship leaders. Hmm I thought...this is like something I've been looking for, for years. Ever since I began playing worship really. You come to a point when you've learned about 10 chords and you know most worship songs and you get stuck. Well this is where I was at about March this year. I had been playing every so often for Horizon's high school and that was a great way to get experience with sound and comfortability playing in front of others on a stage. If anything grows your confidence, its high schoolers and their incredible ability to criticize others. So here I was at this new church and I find myself in this mentor group. I had to "audition" which he didn't call it that but he had heard from my dear friend that I loved worship and was a worship leader... I think he just wanted to make sure this was true. :) So I became part of the group and over the last months I have been meeting weekly with several other worship leaders and pastor Ron to continue to grow this gift. There has been times of complete insecurity and times of great joy as I've grown, learned, studied and been exposed to a plethora of things I'd never seen or thought of before. The one thing Ron always says is "being proceeds doing." He says, "Worship God before you lead others to worship." I have really learned that this absolutely HAS to be true for you to lead anyone in genuine worship. The Holy Spirit can lead like no other... so I let Him.
This brings us to Tuesday morning when I received an email from Ron asking if I would co-lead the worship this Sunday with him at the main service. CO-LEAD? MAIN SERVICE? THIS SUNDAY? I could barely get through the email before I responded back with "YES! I AM HONORED!" It was funny because he actually said "pray about it" and I thought "I have prayed about this for the last couple years. I know what God would say." ;)
There is no feeling like being exactly where you are supposed to be and doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. That is how I felt at rehearsal tonight. I know Sunday will be nerve-racking and might not sound the best, but my one prayer is that I would let the Holy Spirit lead in and through me as this gift is from Him. There is nothing more powerful than that. I am honored and humbled to be a vessel of Christ. Wow.
To God be the glory.
(Pray for me!)
A little background information on my spiritual journey over the last year. After last summer I had been feeling like God wanted me to move from Horizon and the high school ministry to pursue leading worship. I didn't know exactly what that meant or where that would lead me but after going to North Coast Calvary for a couple months, the drive got too long and it felt like I was missing the piece of fellowship and community. I then got introduced by my roommate to the church I go now called Newbreak. She was going there and brought me along with her. She ended up moving on and somehow, someway I ended up staying. I kept hearing this faint voice... stay and worship Me. Hmmm, this really isn't the exact place I want to be Lord. I was kind of looking for a husband here (to be honest) and its smaller than I am used to. Hmm. But I stayed.
Only a few weeks into being at this new church I was introduced through another dear friend of mine to the worship pastor, Ron. Great guy and the odd thing was he was starting a group to mentor worship leaders. Hmm I thought...this is like something I've been looking for, for years. Ever since I began playing worship really. You come to a point when you've learned about 10 chords and you know most worship songs and you get stuck. Well this is where I was at about March this year. I had been playing every so often for Horizon's high school and that was a great way to get experience with sound and comfortability playing in front of others on a stage. If anything grows your confidence, its high schoolers and their incredible ability to criticize others. So here I was at this new church and I find myself in this mentor group. I had to "audition" which he didn't call it that but he had heard from my dear friend that I loved worship and was a worship leader... I think he just wanted to make sure this was true. :) So I became part of the group and over the last months I have been meeting weekly with several other worship leaders and pastor Ron to continue to grow this gift. There has been times of complete insecurity and times of great joy as I've grown, learned, studied and been exposed to a plethora of things I'd never seen or thought of before. The one thing Ron always says is "being proceeds doing." He says, "Worship God before you lead others to worship." I have really learned that this absolutely HAS to be true for you to lead anyone in genuine worship. The Holy Spirit can lead like no other... so I let Him.
This brings us to Tuesday morning when I received an email from Ron asking if I would co-lead the worship this Sunday with him at the main service. CO-LEAD? MAIN SERVICE? THIS SUNDAY? I could barely get through the email before I responded back with "YES! I AM HONORED!" It was funny because he actually said "pray about it" and I thought "I have prayed about this for the last couple years. I know what God would say." ;)
There is no feeling like being exactly where you are supposed to be and doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. That is how I felt at rehearsal tonight. I know Sunday will be nerve-racking and might not sound the best, but my one prayer is that I would let the Holy Spirit lead in and through me as this gift is from Him. There is nothing more powerful than that. I am honored and humbled to be a vessel of Christ. Wow.
To God be the glory.
(Pray for me!)
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